Novruz holiday celebrated in Strasbourg
“Novruz Bayram”, the traditional Azerbaijani holiday which marks the New Year and the coming of Spring, was organized and solemnly celebrated on the initiative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe on March 17, 2013 in Strasbourg, as reported in the information issued by the Permanent Mission on Monday.
The celebrations were attended by the heads and representatives of permanent missions accredited to the Council of Europe, professors from the University of Strasbourg, local community, Azeri and foreign students in Strasbourg as well as members of Azeri and Turkish diaspora.The event was inaugurated by Mr. Emin Eyyubov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, who warmly welcomed all the participants and congratulated them on the occasion of Novruz, the most important holiday for all Azeri people. He spoke extensively about the roots of this ancient holiday and its specific features emphasizing that this event is a holiday of peace, friendship, spiritual purity, reconciliation, good neighborhood, prosperity and awakening of the nature. The ambassador said that the tradition of Novruz has a special place in the heritage of the people of Azerbaijan and is the incarnation of such values as cultural diversity, tolerance and healthy way of life.
Furthermore, the ambassador informed that during Novruz holiday people celebrated four year-end Tuesdays dedicated to water, fire, wind and earth organizing various games and ceremonies.
The ambassador also reported that the efforts of the First Lady of Azerbaijan and the Chairman of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva resulted in including the Novruz holiday in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009 and in declaring the 21st of March as the International Day of Novruz by the UN General Assembly in 2010.
Thereafter, a group of dancers named “Azərbaycan Qartalları” (“Eagles of Azerbaijan”) directed by Khanlar Bashirov, Distinguished Artist of Azerbaijan, and accompanied by musicians performed Azeri folk dances. Traditional songs were performed by the young singer Mehri Asadullayeva in her peculiar style. The musical program of the evening, especially young dancers’ excellence, sparked the interest and sympathy of the public. At the end of the concert, the participants were offered traditional Azeri delicacies and Novruz sweets.